Electric switch



Oct. 28, 1930. w, MARSH 3,780,026

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Jan. 14, 1929 INVENTOR W BY 425' WITNES ATTORNEY Fatcnted @ct. 28, 193G treat/2t WILLIAM B. MARSH, 9F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK ELECTRIC SWIT UH Application filed January 14, 1929. Serial Ito.

This invention relates to improvements in electric switches and more particularly to that type of switch which is operated by a clock mechanism for closing a circuit at a desired set time.

The primary object of my invention resides in an electric switch which is operated by the alarm mechanism of a clock to automatically close the circuit of a radio hook up to at a predetermined time.

Another object is to provide a switch that is attached to a clock and operated by the alarm mechanism without radical changes to the construction of the clock.

Another object resides in a switch so constructed that upon one revolution of the alarm drive shaft the switch closes and automatically locks and will remain the same until the operator wishes to turn ofi the current.

A still further object of my invention resides in a switch which is easy to operate, simple in construction, positive in action and will not conflict with the operation of the working parts of the clock.

With these and other objects in view which will become apparent as the specification proceeds, the invention resides incertain novel construction and combination and arrangement of parts, the essential features of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my device shown attached to the rear of an alarm clock.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same with a portion of the clock casing broken away to show the alarm mechanism thereof.

Figure 3 is a detail perspective View of my improved electric time operated switch per se.

Figure 4c is an end elevation of the same showing the parts in position ready for the alarm to trip.

Figure 5 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 4.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters, the numeral designates my improved electric time switch in its entirety shown mounted on the rear of an ordinary alarm clock 11 having an alarm mechanism 12 disposed within a casing 13, and comprises the usual windable spring 1%, drive gear 15,

driven shaft 16, and oscillating shaft 17. The alarm setting arbor 18 is provided at the rearend with the usual manipulating knob 19 and on the opposite end with a hand 20. A trip lug 21 is mounted on the arbor to coact with the gear 22, which is driven from the main shaft of the clock (not shown), and provided with a hub having a notch 23 and held against the lug 21 by a spring 24 having an inwardly bent finger 25 which normally holds the oscillating shaft from operating as clearly shown in Figure 2 of the drawing.

The slight change that has been made to the ordinary clock is the extension of the driven shaft 16 to project beyond the rear wall of the casing 13 to receive a disk 26 which is provided with an outwardly extending pin 27 adjacent the peripheral edge thereof for a purpose to be presently explained.

My improved switch 10 is mounted on the rear wall of the casing below the disk 26 by fastening elements 28 passing through a block 29 of a non-conductive material which constitutes a support for all of the moving parts. I

is normally held in a raised position by a spring 33. A contact plate 34 is mounted on the under side of the arm adjacentthe free end for bridging a pair of contact members 35 mounted in and projecting beyond the top side of the block by expansion springs 35. The contacts 35 are electrically connected in a circuit (not shown) by the two wires 36 having plugs 37 attached to their ends and inserted into sockets in the block 29.

A spring pressed latch 39 is pivotally mounted as at 40 to one end of, the block and is provided with a hook or bill 4.1 at one end for gripping the free end of the arm 32 when in a lowered position.

The disk 26 is prevented from turning, although the alarm mechanism has tripped, by the arm 42 of a bell crank lever 43 mounted on the block 29 and which arm is swingable into and out of the path of the pin 27. W hen in the position shown in full lines in Figure 4 of the drawing, the disk will be free to rotate upon the releasing of the alarm mechanism but when in the dotted position the same is held against turning. The other branch arm 44 of the bell crank constitutes a manipulating member.

To describe the operation of the switch, we shall assume that it isconncctedin' a c'ir- .cui t of a radio receiving set and that my SWltCll IS used in place of the usual control placed upon the radio set as an ornament and within rea h of the operator when tuning The operator first sets the dial of the radio for a station that is to broadcast, at a certain hour, aprogram that the operator wishes to hear but has other things to occupy his mind during the interim. The switch is left open by permitting the arm 32 to assume a raised position as clearly shown on the drawing by full lines. The alarm hand 20is then set by turning the knob 19 to point to-the specified hour afterwhich the lever 43 is swung to the position shown in full lines bringing the vertical leg out of the path of the pin 27 which sets the switch for operation.

At the specified time for the program, the alarm trips due to the gear wheel 22 which has been turned by the running of the time mechanism (not shown; bringing the notch 23in register with the ug 21 which permits the spring 24 toexpand moving the finger 25 to release the oscillating shaft. As the driven shaft 16 turns in a counter-clockwise direction, the pin 27 rides over a portion of the arm 32 pressing the free end of same down until it is caught by the hook end'41 of the spring actuated latch 39 which forces the plate 34 against the yieldable contact points 35 and closes the circuit to turn on the radio at the set time.

To prevent the disk 27 from making more I than one revolution, .1 have provided for the return of the arm 42 of the lever 43 to its normal vertical position by pivoting a rocker 50 to the vblock 29 with one end extending tical sliding movement.

under the arm 44 of the'lever 43. The opposite end of the rocker arm is pivotally connected to a slide plate 51 which is mounted on the block and provided with a slot 52' through which pins 53 extendto allow ver movement of the switch arm 32 the bar 51 is moved downward swinging the free end of the link 50 upward striking the arm 44 of the lever 43 which returns the other arm 42 to an obstructive position for the pin 27 when it completes, its full revolution.

After the station which the user has been listening to, has completed the program or While I have described what I deem to be the most desirable embodiment of my invention, it is obvious that many of the details may be varied without in any way departing from the spirit of my invention, and I therefore do not limitrmyself to the exact details of construction herein set forth nor to anything less than the whole of my invention 9 limited only by the appended claim.

What is claimed as new is In an electric switch for attachment to alarm clocks comprising a base of insulating material adapted to be mounted to the back of an alarm clock, a pair of electric contact members mounted on said base, a switch arm pivoted to said base for contacting engagement with said a contact members, spring means acting to hold said switch arm out of engagement with said contact members, and a releasable catch mounted on said base for engagement with said switch arm when fully depressed to hold the same in contactingengagement with said contact members, a rotatable disk adapted to be mounted on the driven alarm shaft of an alarm clock, and an actuating pin projecting from said disk and adapted to depress said switch arm upon rotation thereof, a bell crank lever pivoted to said base, and means carried by said base and operable by said switch arm upon its downward movement to cause one arm of said bell I crank lever to move into the path of movement of said pin.

In testimony whereof I have aifixed my signature Upon downward WILLIAM B. MARSH. 

